Harman Packs Big Sound into BDS x70 Theater Systems

You can do the research and spend the money. However, one of the most daunting tasks when it comes to home theater is setting the whole thing up. It’s such a sad thing to have nice equipment that’s not playing properly!

Harman Kardon wants to take some of the guesswork (and the mistakes) out of home audio. The company just announced the Harman Kardon BDS x70 Series, a trio of home theater systems that can sense room size and calibrate acoustics accordingly.

All three models include a multifunctional receiver that can play 2D and 3D Blu-rays, well as standard DVDs. It also includes an FM tuner. Despite the functionality, each one is also pretty compact, which means they should work with just about any room size.

The BDS 570 receiver is the anchor of the BDS 770 home theater system. Designed to work with 5.1-channel systems, the unit has multiple HDMI inputs, a front-panel USB port, and Harman’s The Bridge IIIP connectivity for iPhone and iPod. It also includes an on-screen menu to help with the setup process.

Besides the BDS 570, the BDS 770 includes four satellite speakers, a center channel, and a powered subwoofer. It also has all of the wall mounts and cables needed to set up the entire system. This setup has an MSRP of $1,099.

For something smaller, the BDS 370 is a 2.1-channel integrated home theater system, priced at $899. This includes the BDS 270 receiver, two speakers and a powered subwoofer. It also features everything mentioned above, just in a smaller setup.

“People have invested significantly in HDTVs to bring high-quality video entertainment into their homes, but many have not yet added the right sound capabilities to complement the picture,” said Sachin Lawande, executive VP, chief technology officer, and co-president of Harman’s Lifestyle and Infotainment. “Impactful sound defines the viewing experience so movies, sports and video-game soundtracks bring digital content to life. The all-in-one BDS system was designed to simplify setup and provide a dynamic environment for streaming video or audio content, any type of DVD, or simply a CD.”